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Ireland issues pork health alert Irish Republic recalls all pork
(about 1 hour later)
All Irish pork products manufactured and sold since September 2008 are being recalled over fears of contamination by harmful toxins, the government says. All pork products made and sold in the Irish Republic since September have been recalled over fears they are contaminated with toxins.
Dioxins were found in slaughtered pigs, prompting the alert to withdraw or destroy Irish pork sold across Ireland and the UK since that date. The action was taken after dioxins were found in slaughtered pigs which are believed to eaten feed containing a banned substance.
The animals are thought to have been infected by animal feed contaminated with a banned substance. Between April and July the UK imported 15,000 tonnes of pork from the country.
The UK's Food Standards Authority is monitoring the situation but said UK consumers faced no "significant risk".
'Banned substance'
A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency said the organisation would assess the situation and take any action required to protect UK consumers.
He said: "From the information that we have at this time, we do not believe there will be a significant risk to UK consumers."
The toxic substance which is believed to have contaminated the pig feed is known as PCB and has been banned in the Irish Republic since 1979.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) revealed pork products on a number of farms were found to have up to 200 times more dioxins than the recognised safety limit.
Consumers and retailers have been warned to destroy all Irish pork and bacon products bought since 1 September.
'Illegal dioxins'
An Irish government spokeswoman said laboratory results of animal feed and pork at samples had confirmed the presence of the dioxins.
"Investigations involving the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) and the FSAI are continuing to determine the extent of the contamination and to identify the processors and products involved," she said.
"Dioxins are environmental contaminants that may be formed during combustion processes and may be present in industrial wastes.
"It is illegal for dioxins at certain levels to be in food products."
Movement of pigs on 10 farms in Ireland has been restricted.Movement of pigs on 10 farms in Ireland has been restricted.
About 7,000 people are employed in the pig industry there, including about 1,200 on farms. Almost 500 farmers produce 3.6 million pigs annually, according to the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Agency. The British Pig Executive said that between April-July this year, the UK imported 230,000 tonnes of pork and bacon from markets including the Irish Republic.
About 7,000 people are employed in its pig industry, including about 1,200 on farms.
Almost 500 farmers produce 3.6 million pigs annually, according to the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Agency.
The industry exports approximately 60% of its production and is worth more than 250m euros (£216m) a year.The industry exports approximately 60% of its production and is worth more than 250m euros (£216m) a year.
A government statement said laboratory results of animal feed and pork fat samples confirmed the presence of dioxins - contaminants that may be formed during combustion processes and can be present in industrial wastes.
"Consequently, the FSAI is requiring the food industry to recall from the market all Irish pork products produced from pigs slaughtered in Ireland," it said.